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Peritoneal Cancer

Major advances in cancer treatments have lead to improved outcomes and quality of life for people with peritoneal cancer. If you have peritoneal cancer (complex cancers in the abdominal region, such as on the appendix), UMass Memorial Medical Center cancer experts can help.

Until recently, peritoneal cancer was considered untreatable. Fortunately, our clinicians in the Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program have expert training to treat these cancers in a compassionate environment.

Multidisciplinary Care

The diagnosis and treatment of peritoneal cancer often require the skills of many specialists. We bring together these specialists in a single setting (called multidisciplinary care). Here the team discusses care for each patient and develops a thorough treatment program. This provides you with the best cancer treatment plan possible.

Surgery for Peritoneal Cancer

Thanks to improvements in our understanding of this disease, surgery is now an option for appropriate patients with peritoneal cancer. This surgery is called cytoreductive surgery or tumor debulking. During surgery, the doctor removes as much of the tumor as possible.

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)

UMass Memorial is one of only three hospitals in New England offering hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and is considered a high-volume program. Our skilled surgical oncologists are nationally recognized for using this chemotherapy treatment.

About Peritoneal Carcinomatosis

This condition refers to the growth of tumor cells on the surfaces of organs, such as: